T30 - problems with PC card slots

[Alejandro Audisio]

I have intermittent connection issues with the PC cards I insert into the slots on my T30... the top slot is the least reliable... but I do get the bottom slot to work somewhat better.... any ideas on how to solve this...?

Thanks.

[Harryc]

Sure, replace the PC Card cage. If you can't find just that part, get a dead systemboard with one still intact. You can also ask for the PC card cage on the marketplace forum. Lots of T30 owners here ...

[rkawakami]

You also try to re-seat it (unplug it, then plug it back in) and see if there was just a dirty connection. Use the Hardware Maintenance Manual for instructions on taking the system apart:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-42308

Besides the PC Card cage, you may have a problem with something else on the motherboard. Try the "no-cost" solution first (re-seating), then obtain another cage (known or guaranteed working, if possible), then if those two things fail, you may be looking at a motherboard swap.

[RealBlackStuff]

Those T30 PCMCIA cages are almost identical to the ones in a T23, I got loads of those...
The mounting holes, the connector and the pushing bars are identical.
Only visible difference is:
seen from the front (when disassembled):
- there is no "ground eyelet" on the left, and the "ground bar" on the front right is a little shorter.
- there is a bar on top, across, of the T30 slot, that's missing in the T23.
I think you can swap the missing/different metal parts from the T30 onto the T23 cage.
But to me it looks as if you could put a T23 cage in the T30 without any modification.
I can send you (one or two) for shipping cost, if interested.